​​​CORPUS CHRISTI – Three companies have raised $1 billion to build a 730-mile oil pipeline from the heart of West Texas to the Gulf of Mexico in what will be the state’s longest pipeline since at least 2008.

The “EPIC” pipeline—which stands for Eagle Ford, Permian, Ingleside, and Corpus—will transport upward of 440,000 barrels per day of crude oil and condensate out of the Permian Basin Shale field to the Gulf Coast region.

The Port of Corpus Christi has become increasingly important as U.S. production takes off. Almost $1.5 billion in oil was exported out of the city last year, according to the website U.S. Trade Numbers.

The EPIC pipeline project is being developed by TexStar, Ironwood Midstream Energy Partners, and Castleton Commodities International.

Construction is set to begin in June and is scheduled to be completed by March 2019.